A three-masted Polish sailing ship, currently on a world tour, will dock at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro from Christmas Day to Thursday, Dec. 27, Visit San Pedro, a tourism agency, has announced.

The tall ship, more than 300 feet long and weighing 2,255 gross tons, is named Dar Młodzieży and has been cruising around the world from its home in Gdynia Maritime University, Poland, since May — celebrating 100 years of national independence. During its visit to Los Angeles, the crew will meet with local officials and members of the Polish community, including those from the Los Angeles Consulate of the Government of Poland.

Poland gained its independence following the defeat of the Central Powers — Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire — in World War I. The armistice was signed on Nov. 11, 1918.

The 36-year-old ship, which travels at 5.5 knots — or around 6 miles per hour — has so far sailed more than 20,000 nautical miles. Dar Mlodziezy — meaning “The Gift of Youth” — is on its way from Japan and will stop in San Francisco before arriving in Los Angeles.

When it leaves San Pedro, the ship will head to Panama for the Roman Catholic Church’s World Youth Day.

Scott Gray, chairman of the Southern California Education Tourism and Cultural Organization, which oversees Visit San Pedro, said the nonprofit has been doing more to expand cultural tourism opportunities locally.

“That’s the growing trend,” Gray said. “About 80 percent of people are looking for experiences when they travel that really brings them closer to the culture of the places they are visiting.”

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David Rosenfeld has been working as a professional journalist for nearly 20 years at newspapers, magazines and websites. He's covered murder trials, interviewed governors and presidential candidates and once did a flip in a biplane for a story assignment. Before joining The Daily Breeze in 2018 to cover El Segundo, Hawthorne and aerospace, he worked at The Beach Reporter in Redondo Beach. In his free time, David loves outdoor sports such as sailing, mountain biking and golfing.